The full scale of flood damage in Boulder County wasn't even known before musicians and concert organizers in the area started planning benefit shows. Several flood relief concerts in Boulder and Longmont had been planned by Monday, and others could follow.

Left Hand Brewing Co. in Longmont often plans its events as fundraisers for local causes. So it wasn't a surprise when the craft brewer stepped forward to raise funds for flood relief. And it was lucky to have the means already in place: Oktoberfest.

Left Hand had planned the event for this weekend. By last Friday, the company had decided to turn Oktoberfest into a flood relief event.

Organizers had to change very little about the event -- it still will feature nine bands, beer from five local breweries, food, family activities and other attractions. And the beneficiaries -- Longmont Meals on Wheels, HOPE for Longmont and the Left Hand Brewing Foundation -- are the same, because they all are providing flood relief.

Jet Edison, pictured performing at Second Story Garage, is on the lineup of the "Wake of the Flood" benefit concert planned for Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Fox Theatre.
(Paul Aiken/Daily Camera)

The Left Hand facility on Boston Avenue in Longmont, which includes the brewery, offices and a tasting room, endured flooding itself. The outside of the property is "a mess," said Josh Goldberg, the brewer's events and community liaison, but he added, "Compared to our neighbors, we're literally and figuratively in great shape."

Many Boulder musicians have been lined up to perform at "Wake of the Flood," a benefit concert planned for Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Fox Theatre in Boulder. The lineup includes members of Deadphish Orchestra, Hot Soup, Mountain Standard Time, The Zimmermans and Jet Edison.

Jet Edison drummer Alex Johnson has firsthand knowledge of the flood's impact on the community.

"Our studio is flooded, and everyone we know is affected," he said. "I still have a whole drum set in my car because I don't know where to put it."

The band's studio is in the basement of a home in south Boulder, and members scrambled to carry equipment out of the room as flood water started flowing in, he said. Band members know other groups that are in the same boat, Johnson said. They're happy to volunteer their time to flood relief.

"What we can offer is music, along with a helping hand," Johnson said.

Boulder electronic duo Big Gigantic -- Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken -- this week announced they will donate a portion of the proceeds from already scheduled shows at Denver's Fillmore Auditorium on Sept. 27 and Rowdytown II at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sept. 28 to Conscious Alliance's flood relief fund.

Lalli and Salken also plan to join Conscious Alliance outside the Boulder Theater from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday to take donations and sell no-service-charge tickets to the Fillmore show. (The Red Rocks gig is sold out.)

"It's so awful, what has been going on the last couple weeks," Salken said. "We literally got in (Monday) and it was sunny like nothing had happened, but there was mud and water everywhere."

The devastation they witnessed spurred the nationally prominent duo to take action.

"This is just a good opportunity for us to just help people out," Lalli added, "because there's people who need to be helped out."

Chris Daniels and the Kings will be among the acts performing during an Oct. 6 flood relief concert at Dickens Opera House in Longmont.
(Greg Lindstrom/Longmont Times-Call)

Dickens talent buyer Paul Dyer said he began sending inquiries to musicians last Thursday night.

"I woke up Friday and already had positive responses from most of the artists," he said.

Flooding drove the Dickens' own sound engineer, Wes Everett, from his home in Longmont's Idaho Creek neighborhood for a couple of days, Dyer said.

Dyer plans to record and make a video of the benefit concert, proceeds from which will benefit the Longmont Community Foundation, and he hopes to quickly release recordings and video from the show to generate further relief funds.

"We're just excited that the Dickens Opera House is in a unique position to do what we love, and we can help our community through music," he said.

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